(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on May 28, 2009.)
Earlier this week, Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed the Railroad Limo Safety Improvement bill into law.
The bill, which enhances the regulation of contract carriers that transport railroad operating crews in an eight-person vehicle in the state, takes effect Sept. 1. The law requires contract carriers to establish a program designed to screen drivers for drugs and alcohol prior to employment, as well as post-accident and random drug test programs. The carriers also will be required to maintain a minimum of $1.5 million in liability insurance.
In August 2006, the Texas State Legislative Board and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) initiated efforts to form and pass the bill. The original legislation came after an August 2005 contract carrier accident in Texas that caused one fatality and career-ending injuries to two BNSF Railway Co. employees, the BLET said. Post-accident drug screens showed the vehicle’s driver tested positive for methamphetamines, according to the union. In addition, the vehicle was only covered by $55,000 in liability insurance
Contract carriers travel 30 million miles in Texas annually to transport rail crews to and from trains and between terminals.